Head officials at Bear Creek High asked to resign

STOCKTON - Word that Bear Creek High School Principal Shirley McNichols and Vice Principal Tim Swartz have been asked to resign buzzed through the Bear Creek High campus Thursday, leaving some students and staff members asking "why?"

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By Keith Reid

recordnet.com

By Keith Reid

Posted Feb. 22, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By Keith Reid
Posted Feb. 22, 2013 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

STOCKTON - Word that Bear Creek High School Principal Shirley McNichols and Vice Principal Tim Swartz have been asked to resign buzzed through the Bear Creek High campus Thursday, leaving some students and staff members asking "why?"

Lodi Unified officials - Superintendent Cathy Nichols-Washer, Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education Dawn Vetica and Personnel Director Mike McKilligan - did not return multiple messages regarding the matter Thursday. But the request for the resignations of McNichols and Swartz had become public knowledge.

"It has gone viral," said English teacher Kristen Graham.

McNichols, who is in her second year as the school's principal, told The Record "no comment" in an email Thursday. Swartz, also did not return multiple messages to The Record.

Swartz has been talking to Bear Creek staff members, however.

"We were informed by the vice principal that he was released effective June 30 and he alluded that the principal had been also," said Bear Creek campus security supervisor Don Tirapelle. "We don't know why. They haven't told him."

Tirapelle said, from his perspective, both McNichols and Swartz have been dedicated to Bear Creek students.

McNichols was put in the spotlight in early February after she confiscated 1,700 copies of The Bruin Voice newspaper. She said she was worried a front-page story about campus safety would incite panic for some students.

The district office told her to release the paper, but not before a story printed in The Record about the situation had been picked up by the national media.

Bruin Voice adviser Kathi Duffel said the newspaper controversy might have been the "icing on the cake" for McNichols' release, but that she didn't think it was the main reason why the district would request her resignation.

Teachers union President Jeff Johnston said he was unaware of any grievances filed against McNichols. As far as he knew, she had a good rapport with his union members.

Swartz is known on campus by students as "Mr. T," and was lauded Thursday for his work to help spearhead the school's new Future Farmers of America program. The school has started a new agricultural science program and built an on-campus greenhouse under his watch as well.

"I've heard. I feel like it's not the smartest move because (Swartz) has done so much for the school," said sophomore Connor Revay, 15, who is a member of the FFA program.

Graham said the FFA club would not be thriving without Swartz.

"He was instrumental. We wouldn't have FFA without him. I can tell you, we will be at the March 5 board meeting to support him," she said.

Trustee Joe Nava said the Board of Trustees must approve any resignations or firings. He would not confirm that either administrator was being let go.

"Nothing is official," he said.

Trustee Bonnie Cassel would not comment on the situation, and Trustee President Ralph Womack did not return a phone call seeking comment.

If McNichols and Swartz do indeed resign, there will be a third Bear Creek High principal hired in a three-year period. Principal Daryl Camp resigned in 2011 after he had his own run-in with The Bruin Voice. Camp had lost multiple master keys at the high school, costing the district significant money for locksmiths to re-key the campus. He sought prior review of the newspaper when he learned they would be reporting about the lost keys.